Swinging hammock.



PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

M. N. WERTZ.

SWINGING HAMMOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1905.

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10.812,387. PATBNTED PBB.13, 1906.

` M. N. WERTZ.

SWINGING HAMMOGK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.21, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4 MERRIAN NELVIN VVERTZ, OF THOMASVILLE,l GEORGIA.

SWINGING HAMMOCK.

Specification of l Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

.To all whom it may concer-11,:

Be it known that I, MERRIAN NELVIN WERTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thomasville, county of Thomas, State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Swinging Hammock for the use of personsv desiring to obtain rest in a .reclining or lying-down osition, especially for the use of'children, of) fication.

My invention relates to swinging portable hammocks in which is provided a .suitable framework with folding legs at bottom and a folding frame structurefor the support of the said hammock and the accessories for the swinging of the said'hammwock when suspended from the main frame in such a manner that the hammock will swing backward and forward by a clock-like power-movement when in use.

The object of my invention is' to provide a light-weight self-operating device thatis portable, neat, and sanative and can be used either indoors or out, and whereby the occupant may be tossed to and fro by a clock-like movement, with a pallet attached thereto in such a manner that it moves the hammock backward and forward, giving Ait a swinging motion, thereby giving the occupant the somuch-desired rocking movement, which continues until the power device is run down.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my hammock in position for use with the hammock open and the movement in place. Fig. 2 shows a similar view of my improved hammock with the legs folded together and the hammock shut up, with the movement moved out from the striking-lever for transportation. Figs. 3 to 11 show detailed drawings of parts and are described as follows: Fig. 8, leg vsection with legs and the hin eiece, showing hinge-pins. Fig. 4 shows t e knife-edged bracket for support of the hammock-frame and its attachments. Fi 5 shows the double adjusting-clamp for ho ding the cylindrical cross-bar in rigid position after the striking lever has been plumbed-that is, permanently attached thereto. Fig. 6 shows the striking-lever that the pallet-hook engages with open slot. Fig. 7 shows the hinge or socket bracket for the support of the cylindrical cross-bar to which the hammock is suspended and to Vwhich is Application filed January 21, 1905. Serial No. 242,161.

which the following is a speciattached the striking-lever and adjustinglevers. Fig. 8 shows the main or end perpendicular supporting-rod of the hammockframe with the loop for suspension at top and the hinge parts at bottom for end bars of the hammock frame. It also shows the brace-bar hinge. Fig. 9 shows the adjustinglever and swing --gage Fig. 10 shows the hinge for each corner of the hammock-frame, with loop for the supportand brace rodsV of the hammock. Fig. 11 shows the stay or support bar that goes to each corner of the hammock-frame and holds it open for use, as

hereinafter described.

In the construction ofmy invention I prov1de`a main frame composed of two end pieces with a top bar, as shown in Fig.,1 at A.

At the bottom of the said end pieces is joined the hinge-bracket, Fig. 3, with the legs M secured in place by the pins 5. Near the top of said frame is placed on the end upright pieces of the main frame a T-socket or hingebracket, Fig. 7, to receive the ends of the cylindrical bar B, (see Fig. 1,) to which has been attached the adjusting-lever F, that has on the guide-bar G, also on which is placed the movable supportbracket, Fig. 4, on each end, as shown in Fig. 1. The horizontal bars N N are secured to the bottom of legs M M. These bars and legs, with the end bars and top bar, constitute the main frame. A clamp, Fig. 5, clasps the top bar A of the main frame and the turnable bar B in the middle near the striking -lever C, Figs. 1 and 2. The said striking-lever and the two adjusting-levers at each end are in line with each other. It will bev seen that the whole is' asimple main frame, work and that it will stand alone on the floor when the legs are opened, as shown in Fig. 1. Bar B is just long enough to rest in the T- socket and should be small enough to turn either way free and easy, and it is only held rigid when clamp-nut R is tightened. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)

The hammock-frame is oblong in form and composed of two parts K K, with hingebracket in each corner J and the end pieces of said frame hinged to the hinge I on the main support perpendicular rod E. (See Fig. 8.)v To the said frame at each corner through loop 8 of bracket J (see Fig. 10) is passed the stay or support bar S, which has a nut on the lower end at 7, and the top end 6 is hinged in the hinge-clamp H on perpendicular bars E E. The hammock -frame is covered with any material suitable for such purposes, as

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leather, wicker-work, rope, or fiber, and

is fastened to said frame by tying, tacking, or

buttoning, and is made so as to hang loosely, that the occupant may recline therein.

To the two end perpendicular bars E E is attached two horizontal bars across the top and middle from each at bb bb. (See Fig. 8.) Between these two horizontal bars bb bb is suspended the clocklike power device and made a part thereof, as vshown in the two views,Figs. 1 and 2. This movement or power device is so arranged that the pallet-rod X, that comes out of the top of movement, can engage in the slot of the striking-lever C, so that when the hammock, as hereinbefore described, is put in the main frame, as heretofore described, by suspending it on the hanger-brackets D, Fig. 4, between the guides 9 9 on adjusting-lever F (see Fig. 9) it will swing back and forward as far as the guides will let it go,.and that by having the movement wound up it will continue to run, provided it is level by the plumb-lever C, which can be made plumb by pulling the adjustinglevers back and forth till the hammock swings an equal way between the two guides 9 9 on the adjusting levers. My powermovement is similar to an ordinary clockrnovement, having a main wheel and intermediate wheel, an escape-wheel with a pallet for operating on the said escape-wheel, a mainspring, ratchet, and pawl for winding, all inclosed between two plates. In the operation of this movement the pallet-wire is thrown back and forth by pallet escaping over the escape-wheel and the out end of pallet-wire engaging in the plumbing-lever C, which will give the said hammock a swinging motion, as the said movement is a part of the hammfi-.-,k-frame. It will be thus seen that when le; striking or plumbing lever is made plumb over the hammock by means of the adjustinglevers 9 it will operate on an unlevel place and that an inexperienced person can operate it successfully, as the hammock will always hang level when still, and with the adjusting-levers at each end of the cylindrical turnable cross-bar the strikingrod C is made plumb over the hammock,

ISO

when all that is needed to make it swing is to wind up the movement and start it with a swing movement and see that the perpendicular rods work evenly between the two guides 9 9. When this is done, it will run till spring is run down. I am aware that there are other devices of this kind, but they are not practical in "point of working merit. They have a stationary movement which will be ruined if the hammock is jerked up beyond a certain limit. With my invention this is not so, as the adjusting-levers, with the guides 9 9, carry the plumbing-rod C up with the hammock should it be raised up beyond the running limit, thus preserving the life of the movement. My invention also covers another source of superiority by' the leveling'- bars, which can be pushed backl and forth till the movement works, so that if the pallet has been bent by careless users it will still run,

for the plumbing-rod can be brought over the center of the pallet-stroke, which must be in any pallet working movement. This renders my hammock superior in running qualities to any other, and then my invention takes up much less room than anyfother, as the legs are at the bottom and just long enoughl so as to insure safety in using it, and when wanted to be put away will fold up very closely, so that a childs hammock need not occupy more than eight inches in depth. Now it will be seen that many variations and designs can be brought into use in the'construction of my invention, as well as different materials used, without departing fromthe spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having fully described my invention by drawings and above specification, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettersl Patent, is-

1. In a device of the class described consisting of a main frame, folding legs at bottom thereof, a turnable horizontal cross-bar at the top of main frame, a hammock folding frame pivoted to said bar, adjusting-levers secured to the ends of said bar, and guides at the bottom of said levers, limiting the movement of hammock-frame substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device of the class described, comprising a main frame consisting of two end pieces with folding legs at bottom, a horizontal top bar, and two horizontal bars secured to the folding legs a turnable horizontal bar near the top of the main frame, adjusting-levers secured to each end of said bar, a hammock-frame and guides secured to the bottom of said levers for limiting the movement of the hammock-frame, a striking-lever in line of adjusting-levers, in center of said turnable bar, and a Aclockwork-motor mounted on hammock-frame, substantially as described.

3. A main frame comprising two upright end members, folding legs at bottom thereof, a horizontal turnable bar mounted near the top of upright end members, adjusting-levers secured to the turnable bar at eachend thereof, a striking-.lever secured to said bar, a hammock-frame swinging from knife-edge hangerbrackets on said bar, and a clockwork-motor engaging the striking-lever, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, a main frame with a turnable horizontal bar near the top, with a striking-lever in center secured thereto and a clamp clasping it near said stiking-lever and also attached to the top bar of main frame, and loosened or tightened to both top bar and said turnable horizontal bar IOO IOS

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by means of a lock-bolt so that when it is tightened it will hold the turnable horizontal bar ri id thereby securing the striking-lever in a rigid position to receive the pallet-wire and so remain until changed by the adjusting-lever, enablin the clockwork-motor to swing the hammoc onlevel and unlevel places alike, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described a main frame composed of top bar, end bars with folding legs at bottom, bottom bars horizontally attached to said legs, a cylindrical turnable bar-with adjusting-levers, astrikinglever, and .a clamp attached thereto, a T

bracket a socket for the rece tion of the cylindrical turnable cross-bar, sai T-bracket with socket being a permanent fixture of the v.main frame and a support for the turnable bar that supports the hammock, the said cylindrical bar with knife-edge brackets on same, and a hammock suspended thereto by two perpendicular -bars hanging on the two knife-edge brackets by a sharp oblong eye in top of said perpendicular bars which su ports the hammock at bottom of same, su stantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, a main frame with folding legs at bottom, with a turnable supporting-bar with ends protruding into the socket of T-bracket, with knifeedge brackets, a striking-lever and adjustinglevers attached thereto, two perpendicular rods sup orted on said knife-edged brackets and two orizontal bars attached to said perpendicular rods, with a clockwork-motor attached thereto, a hammock hinged to bottom of said perpendicular bars, in a way that said hammock will fold upwardly and fall to a level supported by four stay-rods with lower ends passing through turnable sockets at each corner, said sockets being turnable in such way that they will allow the stay-rods t0 slip through them and slip upwardly alon said rods7 thus allowing thehammock to be olded together closely to the main frame so that When the legs of main frame are folded t0- Vgether the whole structure Will occupy but little room as hereinbefore substantially described. v

In testimon that I claim the foregoing as myv invention have signed my name, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 19th day of January, A. D. 1905. l

MERRIAN NELVIN WERTZ.

Witnesses:

S. A. RODDEMBY, JNO. W. H. MITCHELL, Jr. 

